Category Archives: Monarch Corona

It’s no accident that these cards have a lot in common with the Miller Press cards. They were produced by Allen Miller Jr. of Monarch Corona Printing. Like the original Millers, these cards have been given away over the years as printing samples and donated to charity auctions. Leftover samples, usually 50-100 of each card, are sold on consignment by a couple of eBay card dealers. Most of the images used are colorized black & white photos, and the work seems to be nicely done. Because they are samples intended to generate printing sales, the cards usually feature thick glossy UV coating and brilliant inks. Of all of the modern cards created by hobbyists, the Monarch Corona cards are the most likely to become highly valuable collectibles in the future. This is due to the fact that their production runs are well-documented, designs are above average, subject matter is interesting, low numbers are produced, and a number of interesting subsets exist. One negative factor is that the subsets seem to end prematurely. The Legacy Series was supposed to be a large series of historical figures, but ended after only 9 cards were released. The American Pastime series ended after only six cards were made. The Super Toys series, which feature backs written by Allen Miller Sr. in the 1970s for a toy company, was supposed to be a 75 card set, but to date, only 7 of them have been printed. It’s as if they grow tired of a design format and simply abandon it. If not for that practice, Monarch Corona would receive 5 stars.